The demonstration was in defiance of a recent Nauru government decree, directed at refugees, which requires protesters to give seven days notice before demonstrating or run the risk of hefty fines or imprisonment.

The Nauru government has not clarified the law.

The Australia-based Refugee Action Coalition says the demonstration follows recent speculation in Australian media that refugees could be transferred from Nauru to Cambodia as early as Monday.

The protest is the latest in a campaign of non-cooperation by some refugees on Nauru.